The essays in A Lot of Questions (With No Answers)? are designed to be thought-provoking, compelling. They provide stimulating discussions which open with “Ruminations About Religion” (in two parts) and continue with such sections as “The Price of History”, “The State of Generosity”, and “Make Sure Your Death is Sudden and Violent.”
These ‘opinion essays’ (as Jordan Neben describes them in his introduction) are not meant to be a static read of author opinion, but are crafted to spark in its readers an analytical, reflective response that ideally will lead to group discussion as much as individual contemplation: “These essays will pose to the reader questions such as: “Does the way in which people die change our reactions to their deaths?” “Is it potentially a good thing for people to raise doubts about their beliefs and convictions?”
Their best use will be as an impetus for such interactive experiences, as Neben’s special way of fostering such reflections brings the underlying relevance and impact of his topics to life.
Consider the points raised in ‘Almost Everyone Else’: “This idea again reminds us that unimportant people have collective value, not individual value. How many works of art depict the death or major life events of important figures? Yet average people must grasp at lower hanging fruit. If they wish to have their lives and terrible deaths commemorated for future consumption, they must hope that a lot of other average people are brought down with them.”
Neben’s blend of philosophical and social reflection holds added value for its wide-reaching inclusion of ordinary experiences, extraordinary circumstances, and their lasting impact on world history and collective memory.
How can doubt and questions be raised so as to educate and prompt a deeper level of inspection and reaction in the general populace?
It’s long been acknowledged that critical thinking is on the wane. Those who would refute this sense would best begin with questioning the status quo, historical precedent, and the truths and realities set forth by authorities.
What better place to begin than with the stylized inquiries of A Lot of Questions (With No Answers)? These questions may not come with pat answers, but their impact lies in the nature of their inquiry.
Ideally, A Lot of Questions (With No Answers)? will be chosen not just for literature library holdings, but for classroom discussion groups profiling the importance, nature, and impact of inquiry and analysis.
